Correlation Between the Position of the Hyoid Bone on Lateral Cephalographs and Formant Frequencies.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to examine the F1, F2, F3, and F4 during sustained vowels /ɑ/, /i/, /o/, /u/.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Fifty-two consecutive patients aged between 9 years and 38 years were invited to participate in this study. Linear measurements included linear vertical distance from the hyoid bone to the sella turcica (H-S); linear vertical distance from the hyoid bone to the posterior nasal spine (H-PNS); linear measure from the hyoid bone to the most anterior point of the cervical vertebra C3 (H-C3); and linear vertical distance from the hyoid bone to the mandibular plane (H-MP).

RESULTS

The results showed a moderate and statistically significant correlation between the average fundamental frequency for the vowel /ɑ/ and H-C3, H-S, and H-PNS and another moderate negative correlation between F3 and F4, and the vertical position of the hyoid bone H-C3 and H-S. For the vowel /i/, there was a moderate negative correlation between F1, F3, and F4 and H-S and also a moderate negative correlation between F3 and F4 and H-C3. For the vowel /o/, there was a moderate negative correlation between F4 and H-S and H-PNS. For the vowel /u/, only F4 correlated significantly with H-S.

CONCLUSION

There is a moderate correlation between the high formants, mostly F4, and the cephalo-caudal position of the hyoid bone.